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The Light of the World: A Memoir Audiobook
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Publisher Description
A deeply resonant memoir for anyone who has loved and lost, from acclaimed poet and Pulitzer Prize finalist Elizabeth Alexander.
In The Light of the World, Elizabeth Alexander finds herself at an existential crossroads after the sudden death of her husband. Channeling her poetic sensibilities into a rich, lucid price, Alexander tells a love story that is, itself, a story of loss. As she reflects on the beauty of her married life, the trauma resulting from her husband's death, and the solace found in caring for her two teenage sons, Alexander universalizes a very personal quest for meaning and acceptance in the wake of loss.
The Light of the World is at once an endlessly compelling memoir and a deeply felt meditation on the blessings of love, family, art, and community. It is also a lyrical celebration of a life well-lived and a paean to the priceless gift of human companionship. For those who have loved and lost, or for anyone who cares what matters most, The Light of the World is required reading.
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“Elizabeth Alexander should be doubly proud of this audiobook. First, she’s written a deeply resonant, heartfelt, and engaging memoir that recounts the tragedy and aftermath of her husband’s untimely death…Second, Alexander should be proud because she is one of the few authors who also successfully narrate their own book. She has a sunny, vibrant voice that accentuates the good times she writes about, but she’s also able to moderate her tone for the most serious passages, making the story more nuanced and interesting. Alexander paces herself well, and she keeps our attention on her writing.”
— AudioFile
Quotes
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“Alexander explores tensions inherent in gender and race and expresses the ambivalence of motherhood in jazz-inflected tones.”
— Elle -
“She shows us how feeding your family and remembering to be aware of the small details of everyday life are the bedrocks of true connection. In this book of prose, each page is a poem.”
— O, The Oprah Magazine -
“Alexander discovers a warmth that will remind some readers of the deeper truth of grieving: It is a sign of love.”
— New York Times Book Review -
"[A] gorgeous and intimate tribute.”
— Newsday -
“A deeply intimate and lyrical portrait.”
— Essence -
“Elizabeth Alexander’s memoir of her marriage and the sudden death of her husband is by turns sorrowful and joyful, earthy and elegiac, deeply personal and achingly universal…palpable on every mellifluous page…Alexander here faces the unfaceable topic of loss—and almost convinces us and herself—that despite her terrible grief, she is grateful for the life and love that preceded it.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review -
“A radiant book of love’s everlastingness and art’s infinite sustenance.”
— Booklist (starred review)
Awards
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An Amazon Best Book of the Month for April 2015
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A Shelf Awareness Best Book of 2015
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Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
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Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
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Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
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Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
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Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
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Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
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Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
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Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
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Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
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Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
-
Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
-
Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
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Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
-
Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
-
Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
-
Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
-
Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
-
Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
-
Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
-
Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
-
Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
-
Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
-
Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
-
Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
-
Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
-
Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
-
Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
-
Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
-
Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
-
Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
-
Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
-
Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
-
Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
-
Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
-
Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
-
Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
-
Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
-
Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
-
Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
-
Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
-
Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
-
Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
-
Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
-
Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
-
Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
-
Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
-
Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
-
Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
-
Winner of PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award, 2016
-
Runner-up for Pulitzer Prize, 2016
-
Runner-up for National Book Critics Circle, 2016
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About Elizabeth Alexander
Elizabeth Alexander is a prize-winning and bestselling author, renowned American poet, educator, scholar, and cultural advocate. Her memoir, The Light of the World, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Awards. She composed and recited “Praise Song for the Day” for President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration and is currently president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the nation’s largest funder in the arts, culture, and humanities.